Morgenster olive oils receive a first and a second place in L'Orciolo d'Oro 2015

Wednesday, 8 July, 2015
Morgenster
In the 17th international extra virgin olive oil competition, L’Orciolo d’Oro Southern Hemisphere, Morgenster Estate olive oils won first and second places in two different categories:• First place: Morgenster Don Carlo extra virgin olive oil.• Second place: Morgenster extra virgin olive oil.

Morgenster owner Giulio Bertrand said: “The L’Orciolo d’Oro competition has always been very important to me because it was the first international competition won by my oil when the Italian competition opened to the rest of the world in 1999. Since then my oil has excelled in this important competition over the years, so I am very pleased that we are on top with these two results!”

About Morgenster extra virgin olive oil

For over 10 years, Morgenster extra virgin olive oil, grown and produced at the Estate in Somerset West outside Cape Town, has been rated in significant international competitions as being among the best olive oils in the world.

Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive Oil bursts with multiple layers of flavour, the result of a secret blend of oils from 14 different Italian cultivars grown, extracted and bottled on the Morgenster Estate.

On the nose, the first whiff is intense freshly cut grass. By warming the oil slightly with your hand the secondary aromas of green tomatoes, almonds, artichokes and perhaps even green apples will become far more evident. On the palate Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive oil presents medium to intense concentration of fruit flavours with a very clean finish. On swallowing the oil there is a pleasant bitterness on the roof of the mouth and a peppery burn down the back of the throat – both characteristics of an excellent quality oil.

Available from Woolworths, Spar, Pick ‘n Pay, Checkers and selected fine food establishments at around R110 for 500 ml.

About Morgenster Don Carlo Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Morgenster Don Carlo is a single variety extra virgin olive oil extracted from a new olive cultivar of the same name. New to South Africa and harvested for the first time in 2013 at Morgenster Estate which holds the patented rights to the cultivar, Don Carlo produces a markedly different olive oil, offering vibrant green tomato and tomato leaf aromas and flavours. It is a good choice to add to bold flavoured dishes or ingredients normally enhanced with pepper, as its slightly bitter and peppery flavour will bring out the very best in them. In Italy, intense extra virgin olive oil is traditionally poured into hearty, thick bean soups for instance.

Available at selected Woolworths outlets and delicatessens at around R115 for 500ml.

About L'Orciolo d'Oro

L'Orciolo d'Oro is the foremost olive oil competition in Italy, open to regular and organic extra virgin oils. It was originally established as a national competition then opened to international producers in 1999, when Morgenster became the first South African oil to win a L’Orciolo d’Oro award. It takes place under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and is organised by the Enohobby Club dei Colli Malatestiani with an international expert jury. L’Orciolo d’Oro derives its name from the Italian term for a large terracotta urn that in the past was used to store oil and has now become the competition’s symbolic trophy.

Since 2014 L’Orciolo d’Oro has judged oils from the north and south hemispheres separately because of different harvesting seasons.

In the 2015 competition, of the 28 awards made in three categories (Intense fruity; Medium fruity; Delicate fruity), 22 were to oils from Chile, five from South Africa and one from Argentina.